Holdback-clasp or check-loop for vehicles.



No. 632,953. Patented Sept. I2, 1899.

c. TEETER. HOLDBACK CLASP 0R CHECK LOOP FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Aug. 27, 1897.)

(No Model.)

I V/TVESSES INVENTOR,

Chancellor Zeier "mz mums mans co Pno o-urna, wnsumm'un, n. c.

with Tn'rns ATENT rricn'.

CIIANCELLOR TEETER, OF DELORAINE, CANADA.

HOLDBACK-CLASP OR CHECK-LOOP FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,958, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed August 2'7, 1897. $erial No. 649,767. (No model.)

[0 a, whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, CHANCELLOR TEETER, a

citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Deloraine,in the Provinceof Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clasps, Buckles, or Check-Loops; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps, buckles, orcheck-loops, and has more particular relation to clasps or bucklesemployed in connection with harness.

The invention consists of an attaching-plate having two spacedspring-arms extending therefrom in different planes and adapted to beattached to the shaft of a vehicle, so that a breeehingstrap may befbrced between said arms and between one of said arms and thevehicle-shaft and then held firmly in position.

The invention also consists of certain other novel constructions,combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will behereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a perspective view of a pair of shafts with my inventionapplied thereto, and Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail perspectiveview of my said improvement.

1 l in the drawings represents the shafts,

2 2 the breeching-straps, and 3 3 my improved clasps. erturedattaching-plate 4, having two springarms 5 and 5 formed on one end ofthe same. The material plate 4 is bent, as at 6, to form the shoulder,so that when said plated is applied to the shaft both of the arms 5 and5 will extend clear of the shaft, and thus be capable of a springmovement in either direction to permit of the straps 2 being forcedbetween the same, as hereinafter described. The arm 5, which extendssome distance beyond the arm 5, is so bent at 8 as to lie farther awayfrom the shaft than the arm 5, which is similarly bent at 9. The arm 5is bent outward from the shaft and then inward near its foreward end, soas to form a strap-re- Each of the latter comprises an aptaining portion10, so that the pressure of the springarm pressing the strap against theshaft will be light at this point, but will become heavier as the strapis moved forward, while the arm 5 is simply bent forward and downward onan incline and is so formed that its outer end extends outward away fromthe arm 5', whereby the breeching-strap may be readily forced betweenthe two arms, so as to lie within the retaining portion 19. The inherentspring quality of the two arms permits of the breeching-straps beingreadily forced between them, and thus held firmly in position by thespring-arm 5 pressing the strap 2 against the springarm 5 and thespring-arm 5 pressing against the shaft 1 in such a manner that thestrap 2 cannot be jarred or shaken out of position.

By the employment of my invention the breechingstraps are securedpermanently to the breeching, so that when the animal is to be unhitchedit is not necessary to touch the breeching-straps at all, as the forwardmove ment of the animal in passing from between the shafts will causesaid breeching-straps to slip out from between the forward ends of thespring-arms 5 and 5, and thereby disengage it altogether from theshafts. This peculiar action is particularly desirable in case ofrunaways, as the horse may be detached from the vehicle by simplyloosening the traces. The application of the breeehing-straps to theshafts is rapid and effective, and the spring-arms hold the strapsfirmlyin position, preventing the wear occasioned by the ordinarydevices of this kind, which allow the strap to lie loosely between theprongs, chafing and wearing with each movement of the animal.

If so desired, the attaching-plate and the shorter arm 5 may be formedintegral and of sheet metal, with the arm 5 constructed of wire andsuitably secured thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a harness-clasp, the combination with a vehicle-shaft, of a platesecured thereto and provided with two spaced spring-arms between which abreeching-strap may be forced, and said breeching-strap firmly pressedbetween the said spring-arms, and also firmly pressed between one ofsaid spring-arms and the vehicle-shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a vehicle-shaft, of a harness-clasp securedthereto and comprising an attaching-plate, and two spaced springprisingan attaching-plate provided with two spaced spring-arms one of which islonger than the other and formed with a strap-retaining curve, and abreeching-strap with its looped end passed around the shorter arm andpressed 20 between said arm and the vehicle-shaft, substantially asshown.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

OHANOELLOR TEETER.

Witnesses:

W. P. MoKIM, T. H. EVANS.

